1. Indus & Vedic Civilization
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INDUS & VEDIC CIVILIZATIONS
The history of ancient India is a glorious one; unfortunately we have very little
information on this rich culture. The history divided between civilizations mark
their differences as well as the progress /digress of ancient society. As said in
Vedic Age; pg.100 – ‘Inspite of its seeming diversity there was a large measure of
cultural unity and the goal of political union was never lost sight of. This unity in
diversity is the keynote of the tangled history of India and forms the background
against which the seemingly complex developments in various aspects of Indian
civilization must be viewed’.
Civilization can be studied based on the salient features of its periodicity, societal
arrangement, its cultural representation, political aspirations, religious beliefs and
its rise or decline. On these broad classifications, we can study two major
civilizations of India – Indus and Vedic. These two civilizations have not only
played a major role in the development of ancient India, but have also left a lineage
that still continues to shape our present Indian culture.
PERIODICTY:
Till 20th century, historians thought that the Vedic society was the earliest
civilization of India. However study done by 2 archaeologists–Dayaram Sahani
and Raakhaldas Banerjee proved that Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, though 1400
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2. Indus & Vedic Civilization
kms apart, were a part of one civilization older than Vedic. Since the region
spanned India across the coastal western belt and along the Indus River, the
civilization was called Indus Civilization. Indus civilization was at its peak
around 2500 B.C.E.
After the decline of Indus Civilization, a new civilization grew which was
dominated by the Aryans and came to be known as the Vedic Civilization. The
period extended from 1500 B.C.E to 500 B.C.E.
REGIONAL SPREAD:
The Indus civilization was spread across the Indus valley (river Sindhu). It spread
in the North from Harappa in Punjab province (Pakistan) to Bhogtrar in South
Gujarat (1400 kms). In the east, there was Alamgir (Meerut) and to its West was
Sutkagen Dor in Baluchistan, next to Iran (1600 kms). Thus, the Indus valley
spread across 12.15 lac sq.km.
The Vedic period marked the entry of Aryans on Indian soil. There has been a
huge debate on the origin of Aryans. Various scholars have postulated theories
which are either supported or debated.
 North Pole: Bal Gangadhar Tilak proposed that the Aryans came from
North Pole. However there is no concrete evidence for this theory.
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3. Indus & Vedic Civilization
 Asia: Scholars like Max Muller suggested Middle Asia could be the place of
Aryans, whereas Rhodes thought it should be Bactria and Edward Meyer
postulated the plateau of Pamir (Iran).
 Europe: Penka and Hirt thought Germany as the base of Aryans.
 South Russia: Based on archaeological, historical and linguistic study,
Meyer, Peek and Gordon Childes postulated that South Russia should be the
home of Aryans. Archaeological excavations in Russia unearthed horse
skeletons, potteries, earthen wares which were strikingly similar to Aryans.
URBAN DEVLOPMENT:
The cities of Indus civilization were well planned and built with baked bricks of
equal sizes. The streets were at right angle to each other with an elaborate drainage
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4. Indus & Vedic Civilization
system. The localities were divided for higher and lower strata of society. There
were public buildings, vast granaries and the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro.
Production of several metals like copper, bronze, lead and tin was carried out. The
discovery of kilns proves that bricks were extensively used for domestic and public
buildings.
SOCIETY:
 The social life of Indus Civilization was that of a happy, satisfied society.
The society by large was “female dominated” and family was a central force.
Though the society was divided into 4 groups as per the occupation, it does
not prove that there could be any discrimination since the housing structure
proves that irrespective of the occupation, people lived in each others
vicinity.
 Compared to the Indus civilization, the early Vedic period civilization was
“male dominated”. Though the women were known as “better half”, they
were not allowed in politics and did not get share in family property. The
caste system of 4 varnas became prominent to such an extent that even the
burial grounds were segregated. The Brahmins and Kshatriyas fought for
superior position, Vaishas did business and paid taxes whereas Shudras were
considered to be slaves of all the 3 varnas. The woman’s position was much
degraded compared to the early Vedic period. In fact the Aitreya Brahmana
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5. Indus & Vedic Civilization
states that having a girl is a “worry” and in Atharveda the girl is considered
‘unlucky’. In Maitreya Upanishad, the woman’s position is equaled to wine
and dice.
 The people of Indus Civilization were vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian.
Diet usually consisted of wheat, jowar, rice, sesame seed, dal, vegetables,
milk and fruits. Meat of sheep, goat, pig, hen, duck as well as fish was
consumed.
 The people of Vedic civilization also followed vegetarian as well as non-
vegetarian diet. Milk and milk products were an important part of diet along
with vegetables and meat. People drank “som ras” and played dice. Horse
race, chariot race, music, dance were the favorite pastime.
 Excavations reveal that women of Indus valley liked to wear ornaments
made of gold, precious stones, silver and copper. Men kept long hair,
sported moustache and beard whereas women tied their hair in a bun. They
also wore bangles made of glass and metal ware.
 In the Vedic civilization, metals like gold, silver, copper, tin, glass were in
use. Iron utensils and equipments were also made during this period.
OCCUPATION:
 The main occupation of Indus Civilization was agriculture. Wheat, jowar,
sesame seed, bajra were grown. Animal farming was also carried out. They
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also grew cotton and wore clothes. Trade was also another occupation and
each merchant family had their own seal. Trading was usually done with
neighboring regions of India, Persian Gulf and Iran.
 The Vedic period people were rural oriented and had agriculture as main
occupation. They ploughed sowed and reaped various crops like wheat,
jowar, rice, moong dal, udad, sesame. They also reared animals like cows,
bulls, horses, goats, donkeys, sheep, pigs and dogs. It is during this period
that ‘elephant’ was first domesticated.
ART, ARCHITECTURE & CULTURE:
 Indus Civilization had mastered the art of using metals, mud, wood, glass for
making ornaments, architecture and various forms. They made terracotta
vessels with decorative colors and design. They made toys, household
utensils, agriculture equipments and ornamental things. The people of Indus
Civilization were good sculptors carving wood and stone in the form of
“relief architecture”, statues and articles. Statues of various birds and
animals were also found along with men, women and “mother goddess”.
 In the Vedic civilization, metals like gold, copper, silver, tin were used to
prepare various artifacts. This period contributed to the Vedic literature
namely Samhitas (Samved, Yajurved, Atharvaved, Rigved), Brahmanas,
Aranyaks and Upanishads.
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7. Indus & Vedic Civilization
 After the composition of Upanishads (around 600 BC), there was a direct
conflict with the practice of yagnas, anushthan, single god ‘Bramha’ and
blind faith which initiated people towards philosophy. Upanishad’s spoke of
only 3 ashrams – bramhachariya, grihsthashram & vanprasthashram. Later
on, ‘sanyas’ was added as a fourth ashram.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY:
 The Indus Civilization people worshipped gods and goddesses. The figures
found in excavation reveal some rituals and ceremonies. Various terracotta
statues of “Mother Goddess” have been discovered from various sites which
prove that she was worshipped in nearly every home. Many seal depicting
rhinoceros, bull, leopard, elephant, ox were found suggesting that the Indus
valley people revered them.
 The religious dogmas increased during the Vedic period and old gods
(multiple ‘nature gods’ like wind, water, fire, etc.) were replaced with new
formed gods. Prajapati, Vishnu & Rudra Shiva became the new gods. It was
during this period that ‘animal sacrifice’ became rampant. Some large scale
yagnas like Rajsuyagna, Vajpeya and Ashwamedh were performed. The
belief in soul, magic, tantra increased and people succumbed to blind faith.
The only difference was that the Vedic gods were immortal whereas the
human beings were not.
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8. Indus & Vedic Civilization
One major reason cited by scholars for the decline of Indus Civilization is the
constant flooding of Indus and other rivers. The excavations carried out in various
sites confirm that the Indus cities have been renovated many times. To avoid
flooding, people would have shifted to higher areas. Apart from the theory of
constant flooding, various scholars have postulated theories for the decline of
Indus Civilization.
MAJOR DIFFERENCES OF INDUS & VEDIC CIVILIZATIONS:
Some of the major differences that can be pointed out between these two
civilizations are:
 Indus civilization was more ‘urban’ and was ‘business oriented’, whereas
Vedic civilization was ‘rural’ and agriculture based.
 Indus valley people used baked bricks for construction whereas that of Vedic
people was made of bamboo and grass.
 Indus valley people made equipments of stone, copper; however they were
unaware of iron. Vedic valley people were aware of iron and made various
equipments with it.
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 Indus valley people worshipped ‘mother goddess’, Shiva, lingam and
figurines. The Vedic people yagna worshippers and created various gods.
They opposed linga puja and statue worship.
 Indus valley knew about tiger and elephants; whereas Vedic people were
fond of horses. They did not know about tiger or elephants.
 Indus people respected ‘oxen’ whereas Vedic people worshipped the ‘cow’.
 Indus valley people had designed their own script, whereas Vedic people did
not have any script and practiced oral tradition.
Atul Bhosekar
M.A (I) - Buddhist Studies
References:
1. Prachin Bharat ka Itihass tatha Sanskriti, K.C.Srivastava
2. Darshan Digdarshan, Rahul Sankrutyayan
3. Culture & Civilization of Ancient India, D.D.Kosambi
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